Grouper Fishing In Naples

Scott McIntyre/Staff Red Grouper lay spread out ready to be cleaned at the Naples City Dock while several pelicans hope for scraps in the waters below on Wednesday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Clarence Fleck, of Capt. Marvel Fishing Charters lays out several Red Grouper fish that the group and the rest of the crew took out on Wednesday. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Brent Hutchinson, left, with Capt. Marvel Fishing Charters, pulls out one of many Red Grouper fish that the group Hutchinson and the rest of the crew took out on Wednesday at the Naples City Dock. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Clarence Fleck, of Capt. Marvel Fishing Charters lays out several Red Grouper fish that the group that he and the rest of the crew took out on Wednesday at the Naples City Dock. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Brent Hutchinson, left, with Capt. Marvel Fishing Charters, lays out one of many Red Grouper fish that the group Hutchinson and the rest of the crew took out for on Wednesday while Clarence Fleck cleans parts of the day's catch at the Naples City Dock. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.

Scott McIntyre/Staff Brent Hutchinson, right, with Capt. Marvel Fishing Charters, pulls out one of many Red Grouper fish that the group Hutchinson and the rest of the crew took out for the day on Wednesday at the Naples City Dock. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met in Apalachicola on Dec. 5-Dec. 6 with a discussion about possible changes to the recreational fishing season for gag grouper in 2013. Local fishermen like the change, which would create a split season that would keep fishing open in the fall, when it is better to catch them in Southwest Florida. Also being discussed is creating game fish and sport fish designations that would apply to Florida's premier fish species, like tarpon and snook, to protect their populations.